IN a surprise move, eThekwini Municipality has closed six beaches due to high levels of E. coli in the water.
The closure of the beaches, including Ansteys Beach on The Bluff, came into effect last week after water quality tests on September 19 showed E. coli counts above 500 colony-forming units (CFU).
The latest results revealed that E. coli at Ansteys Beach has reached 4 884cfu/100ml. The water test results came at the time when eThekwini is gearing up for the festive season. Residents are concerned about the serious repercussions on the local economy.
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Sewage spills have previously been reported at many beaches in the north and south of Durban. This prompted the municipality to close the affected beaches at the time.
The chairperson of a fishermen’s association, Just Angling Durban, Aveshin Moodley, said the KZN tourism sector continues to lose a big chunk as sewage spills continue to pose health hazards.
“We are heading towards the festive season. However, our beaches, which previously held Blue Flag status, have been closed. Our areas are key tourist attraction points, but due to E. coli contamination, nobody wants to spend the holiday in Durban,” said Moodley.
He added, “We have many guest houses on The Bluff that are usually full to capacity during the festive season. However, after E. coli was detected, there has been a drastic decline in tourists. Visitors prefer going to other provinces. We need to see swift action from the municipality on this issue as it has serious repercussions for the tourism sector.”
Other beaches that are closed include Battery Beach, Country Club Beach, Thekwini Beach, Reunion Beach and Laguna Beach.
The DA, in a statement, said the closure of beaches over the past three years due to high E. coli levels, has already taken a significant toll on the tourism industry.
The party said the economic effects are far-reaching, affecting businesses, accommodations and activities that rely on tourism, with the entire water-sport, yachting and sailing sectors equally affected by these sewage spills.
Meanwhile, the malfunctioning sewage pump stations on The Bluff continue to discharge sewage into the ocean, also resulting in high E. coli levels in the seawater – E. coli is a bacteria found in human and animal waste – and can pose serious health risks if ingested through contaminated water.
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